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Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Has anyone replaced the overhead vent fan in the kitchen?  If so, what did you replace it with?  Looking at the Dometic remote vent and was wondering if that would work out.  Just tired of removing and replacing the plastic cover on the vent.  Pretty flimsy and subject to breakage at anytime.
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #1 –
I put in the remote controlled Fantastic vent.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #2 –
Is it quiet?

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #3 –
Almost silent has both temp settings and speed settings also auto close in rain.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #4 –
Chuck
Do you have pics of your I stall?  Was it difficult to do?  I have the same issue with my fan cover. I actually have it taped to prevent it falling. Kind of a pain in the a-$@@@&!!
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #5 –
No pics of the install. The opening is the same for the Fantastic vent. Biggest problem was filling all the screw holes on the aluminum plate that was under the Kool-o-matic. as it isn't necessary for the new fan.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #6 –
If the breaking of the plastic cover is the cause of your angst, I would suggest searching for the forum member (can't remember) that has a son/son in law that 3D prints stout replacements. Mine works very well. Color is perfect match and plastic is very stout. Just hated replacing my otherwise great fan for a plastic shroud.

Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #7 –
Thanks Chuck, exactly what I was thinking would work.  I agree, I like the fan in there now, just not that cover and the difficulty of removal and replacement.  Nice job Chuck!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #8 –
The original fan and cover were good but it sounded like a 747 when in use. Also in my case the later covers were put on the A/C's and rubbed the Kool-O-Matic shroud and made noise also when the airs were running.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #9 –
I also replaced mine with the Fantastic Fan and have been much happier with it.  It also helps during cold weather when I can insert the  cushion designed for that purpose.
Chuck (Chuck and Jeannie) gave me helpful information which got me through the project with a few alterations on my part.  I have a mid entry coach so our layout is a little different.  I bypassed the old thermostat, since the new fan has one built in.  This is what Chuck wrote, about seven years ago:

"I assume your Kool-O-Matic fan is/was located in the kitchen area, probably above your stove and microwave.  I went out and looked at our coach, which has that same general configuration.  If I needed a new 12 volt power lead to go the the kitchen vent fan cutout, I would take it off the hot wire and ground wire feeding the 12 volt light directly over the kitchen sink.  The double wire could run through the overhead cabinets until directly in line with the fan cutout.  You could drill a hole in the side of the fan cutout, horizontally through the ceiling foam, until you are above the cabinet ceiling.  That would only be about 4-5 inches in our coach.  Then punch straight up through the cabinet ceiling to intercept this hole.  Run your power/ground wire up into the cabinet ceiling hole and over until it comes out the side of the fan cutout.  Then hook up to the new fan.

Takes me longer to describe than it would take to do.  To tap into the hot and ground wires at the light fixture, you might be tempted to use a "vampire" crimp-on splicing connection.  See photo below.  I know I have used these things for years on cars and motorcycles, had pretty good luck with them, and thought they were great.  I have recently been introduced to a better solution:  the Posi-Tap.  Posi-Tap- No Crimp Tap
OR, you could use "Old School" solder and heat-shrink tubing...your choice."

2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #10 –
Consider the Maxxair fans as well.  I've had both and my experience is the Maxxair is just a powerful and much quieter than the Fan-Tastic Vent fans.
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #11 –
I replaced with a MaxAir7000.  And used the old power wiring, 2 out of the 3 wires.  Then to cover the old switch location, mounted the new remote holster for the remote over the old hole in the walnut wall.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Vent Replacement in Kitchen

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Dave Cobb –
I replaced with a MaxAir7000.  And used the old power wiring, 2 out of the 3 wires.  Then to cover the old switch location, mounted the new remote holster for the remote over the old hole in the walnut wall.

I did the same with the Fantastic vent. See picture in reply #1. Using the existing wiring made the change easy.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean